The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-08-05

all the answer could get was that the
Travelling Family were coming, and
that we must all 90 at once.
Finally l watched them depart in lit
tie groups, bewailing the necessity of
leaving their homes. but quite unable
to explain to me what it was they
dreaded.
l found myself alone at nightfaIl,
but, though | used my glass, l saw
nothing in any direction to terrify me.
1t was strange thing, however, to be
the only inhabitant of a deserted vii
lage. lmissed even my far from af-
fectionate neighbors, and heartily
wished them back. Only one c6mpan-
ion remained to me-a poor little dog,
which had fed, and which had in con-
sequence attached itself to me.
1t was not natural that should sleep
very soundly under such circumstance
1t was a night of the full moon. The
sky was almost as clear as day, and it
was extremely warm. n
My hammock hung within my hut.
l tossed and turned in it without
closing my eyes. Occasionally arose
and looked out into the night All
was silent save the hum of insects.
The Travelling Family were not yet ar
rived; neither whoop of savage man
nor roar of savage beast was audible.
At last l slept. l was deep in
dreamland, when the bowling of my
dog aroused me. He was a quiet ami
NAL, and lay curled up on the floor be-
meath me; but as l lifted my head, l
saw him at the door, we'll outlined
against the moonlight. Every line of
his wiry frame expressed abject terror,
whatever they are, the Travelling
Family are here" 1 said to myself,
land that dog sees them" and l
sprang to my feet wrapped my blank
ct about me as a sort of shield, and siez-
ed my pistol.
Thus prepared l stood at the door.
The bright sky was overhead. The
little adobe village all about me. Be-
yOnd, the wide pampa spread afar, with
its covering of coarse grass, which,
when moved by the wind, took the
form of ocean pillows. But what was
thisP Spreading for miles away, broad
and long, a great black river seemed
to be running over the pampa. Slow
ly it drew nearer, and l heard a noise
like the rustling and cracking of hard
paper, only much louder than is possi-
bic to this sound.
Something came-sometbing nv dog
feared horribly. Terror is infectious.
/ merely paused to seize my portfolio.
/ had not undressed for the night, and
followed him as he rushed out of the
village.
At daybreak / had reached the mar
gin of a river, and, happily, rude
hostelry, where rest and food might be
obtained. The landlord spoke English.
Where do you come fromp" he
asked.
told him.
'Then | do not ask you s0hy you
come" he said. II know already that
the Travelling Family have come. God
abate that nuisancel and may they turn
the other way, or it will be our turn to
run next. How is it that you are be-
hind the othersP You must be the man
from the United States they told me Of.
Perhaps Yankee curiosity got the best
Of you. You desired to see this Travel
ing Family.
aWelip And since you can speak
Engliah, praY tell me what it IS von
cali By that namep'' said.
Don't you know?" he asked. They
are ants A great body Of ants; large
and very strong ants, which travel con-
stantly. The line Of march is never
certain, but they eat every thing as
they GO The grass. the herbs, the
vegetables and all creeping things They
eat anything, in fact -alive or dead
animal or vegetable. There is nothing
that can he done to drive them back.
They can not be killed There are too
many. So the people fly and 60 back
when the pests depart hope you
left nothing valuable In your house.
You win never see it again if you have.
They clear their path utterly. /"
s.AntsP' / cried; 'and 50 the Travel
ing Family is nothing but band Of
antspr
ssNothingF' said mine host. wait
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